apparently it has been noted that the fantastic little coffee pot locomotive from pichi richi pass steam preservtion society has been seriously ill, she is in intensive care with what is believed to be large intestinal bowel cancer, (rust in the boiler, if you wish to be vulgar) the preservation society has been awaiting donations for her extremely costly operation under highly skilled technical surgeons, some having to come from interstate at great cost, unfortunately medicare does not cover all the operation costs so a call for donations went out and has been answered, myself, upon hearing of such a tragedy, donated $500, another upstart businessman donated $3,000 and got his name on the honorary list, which includes a ride beside the driver, if you dont mind, on the footplate no less, anyway the little feller will soon be up and running again with a brand new large intestine ( boiler to the unitiated) thanks go out to all the well wishers and numerous cards and get well soon messages, the little feller will soon be choofing down the tracks again, will let all know when she's on the rail again 

Thanks for the update, Dave.  Glad to hear that the prognosis is looking good now after all that worry. We'll have to schedule in a trip next time we're out Flinders way.

I know I spew a lot of extremist propaganda on this forum but I for the life of me cannot understand why we have to always find the money ourselves to do worthwhile work like this.
The restoration of the Coffee Pot is ABSOLUTLEY ESSENTIAL, it is UNIQUE, not another like it in the WORLD and the Governments do squat. Unless of course you get a huge donation then they will set up a beauracracy to "help" in the restoration of such projects. Been there done that.....
For those of you who have been to the UK you can still see the original Rocket, preserved at Govt expense yet in Australia our GEMs and unique items get bugger all Govt Help, unless there is some political mileage to be gained or it is an election year...
Ok I'm off to find a valium....